Union at R.I. Hospital challenges sick leave policy

Wednesday

Jan 11, 2017 at 3:00 PMJan 11, 2017 at 5:56 PM

Lynn Arditi Journal staff writer lynnarditi

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — The union representing employees at Rhode Island Hospital is speaking out against Lifespan’s new attendance policy effective Jan. 1 that reduces the number of unplanned absences employees are permitted before they can be disciplined.

The new policy restricts the number of “unexcused/unplanned” absences during a 12-month period to seven for part-time employees and 10 for full-time employees, according to Lifespan. Employees who exceed those maximums can be fired, according to a copy of the policy obtained by The Journal.

The United Nurses & Allied Professionals (UNAP) -- which represents 2,300 nurses, technologists, therapists and other health care workers at Rhode Island Hospital -- says the new policy means employees who get sick but don’t qualify for longer-term medical leaves and have used up their unexcused absences will have to go to work or face disciplinary action.

“No one wants to come into work and put patients at risk,’’ Helene Macedo, an operating room nurse and president UNAP Local 5098.

UNAP and the Teamsters Local 251 held an informational picket Wednesday afternoon outside Rhode Island Hospital.

Lifespan said in a statement that the new policy is designed to address “excessive absenteeism.” The first time an employee is out sick for up to five days it only counts as one unexcused absence. Furthermore, employees have “safeguards” such as short-term leaves which, if approved, do not count as unexcused absences.

Disciplinary actions regarding unexcused absences also always begin with a verbal warning followed by two written warnings before termination.

“In no way is this policy intended for employees to come to work when they are ill,’’ the Lifespan statement reads.

UNAP and Lifespan signed a three-year contract in September 2015 which runs until June 30, 2018.